Congratulations to the 2020 Awards Winners
James L. Bass Manager Life Achievement Award
Paul Schuetzler
CEO/General Manager, Consolidated Telcom (Dickinson, ND)
Paul joined Consolidated to handle the startup of the CLEC operation which was the first of its kind in North Dakota and upper Midwest. He held the position of Chief Operations Officer for Consolidated until January 2003 when he assumed the position of General Manager/CEO. In addition to successfully starting the first CLEC operation in North Dakota, he led the conversion of all access lines from copper to fiber optic over the course of 10 years. As of 2019, all Consolidated customers have access to gigabit internet speeds. Over the course of Paul’s tenure in leadership, Consolidated grew from serving 5,400 broadband customers to serving over 16,000 broadband customers.
James L. Bass Director Life Achievement Award
Douglas Hawes
President, Board of Directors, ATMC (Shallotte, NC)
It is difficult to sum up the impact that a leader has had on an organization to which he has given so much for 30 years. Following in his father’s footsteps who also served on the ATMC Board of Directors, Doug began his tenure in March of 1990. A retired retail banker and real estate broker, Doug had strong ties to the Brunswick County community. In his three decades of service, he has played a vital role in many historic moments of the cooperative. From growth of cable TV in the early 1990’s, to the introduction of broadband later in the decade, to the explosion of wireless service in the 2000’s, Doug has been a leader in transforming ATMC from a telephone cooperative into a full-service communications cooperative. Through ups and downs, Doug has kept ATMC relevant in the everchanging industry.
Key Employee Award
Ron Ellis
Former Director of Operations, Nex-Tech (Hays, KS)
From the day Nex-Tech hired Ron Ellis to the day of his retirement, he has been an exemplary role model, not only pushing himself to achieve, but inspiring all those around him. Ron joined the Nex-Tech team in the position of Engineering Technician in 1990, and was eventually promoted to director of operations, a position which he held until his retirement in 2020. On many occasions, Ron went above and beyond the expectations of his position. During technical crises, he worked many nights and weekends without complaint. Throughout Ron’s employment, his efforts were key in achieving ambitious construction goals set by management to complete many successful fiber projects in the company’s regulated and CLEC areas. He worked tirelessly during periods of exponential growth to analyze feasibility and ensure projects were completed timely and within budget. He was well-known at Nex-Tech as an expert willing to help with any project, always holding up his end of the project, and going beyond what was asked of him.
Management Innovation Award
Michael Burke
CEO, Matanuska Telephone Association (Palmer, AK)
Michael Burke has spent decades pushing Alaska forward to the next frontier of technology and telecommunications, right up through the completion in 2020 of the historic AlCan ONE all‐terrestrial fiber network to the Lower 48. Michael was named the CEO of Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) in September 2015, following 35 years of experience in the telecom and technology industries. He immediately shifted the co‐op’s priorities to focus more on innovation and big, forward‐looking changes, with a vision aimed to bring the co‐op into the future and develop it into a comprehensive, modern telecommunications company. Michael's leadership in helping MTA’s members “cut the cord” for linear TV and ushering in streaming services was an unmistakable success for MTA and its members. During his tenure at MTA, Michael, along with leadership from the Alaska Telecom Association, supported the creation of the Alaska Plan. Michael exemplifies true leadership, innovation and dedication to telecommunications progress in the Last Frontier.
Timothy Evan Owens
Cronin Communications
*Awarded Posthumously
Tim was the president and owner of Cronin Communications, a premier telecom consulting firm. Over the past 25 years, Tim worked with hundreds of companies throughout the United States, assisting them on strategic planning, board development, business planning, marketing research, and training to just name a few. Tim spoke at various NTCA events as well as both regional and state association meetings over the years. Tim also served on the OPASTCO Board of Directors, the OPASTCO PR and Marketing Committee and several other industry committees. Through his work at Cronin, Tim created many outstanding programs including his Business to Business Sales Conference, Customer Service Manager Conference, Leadership 2020 (in partnership with Vantage Point), Technology Tuesday’s Webinar Series, Tim Talks and many others. Prior to joining Cronin, Tim was the first executive director of the Foundation for Rural Service, the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and was instrumental in developing much of the initial youth programing at FRS.
Outstanding Marketing Achievement Award
Jonathan Babbitt
VP of Marketing, Matanuska Telephone Association (Palmer, AK)
It was apparent to MTA that cable TV was on its way out the door, and that with streaming services, customers were given greater content options and more affordable rates. In the years leading up to the shift in cutting cable, MTA’s traditional video customers accounted for nearly 25 percent of MTA’s subscriber base, making the initiative a risky one for the co‐op. Jonathan Babbitt and the MTA team proactively worked to help members understand streaming and to become comfortable with a technology migration. The team used a combination of on‐the‐ground education and marketing and sales tactics. MTA launched a “Streaming Showcase” series that consisted of 90‐minute workshops detailing the evolving state of cable TV and basic education on streaming applications. Collectively, nearly 1,500 customers attended these showcases, learning more about what options were available and how the end of linear TV wouldn’t be the end of accessible, easy‐to‐use TV with the content customers want. Today, thanks to the strong efforts of Jonathan and his team, 89 percent of MTA’s former television customers remain MTA customers.
Heroism Award
Zachary Swartzmiller
Communications Services Technician, ATMC (Shallotte, NC)
Zachary Swartzmiller starting his day carpooling to work one morning when he and a friend noticed a service van ran off the road and into a nearby creek. The van was quickly sinking into the murky water with the driver unable to get out. Zach and his friend immediately stopped their vehicle and ran into the cold and murky water to rescue the driver. The two worked together to remove a window on the van and were able to pull the driver to safety. Emergency services responders praised Zach for his quick response and called him a real-life hero for his quick response.
Community Outreach Award
Gary Coy
Market Data Analyst, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative (Kingfisher, OK)
Sondra Coy
Accounting Rep-USF, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative (Kingfisher, OK)
Gary and Sondra Coy have collectively worked for Pioneer Telephone Cooperative for more than 57 years. They both enjoy helping out where they can at work and in their community. In November 2019, Gary and Sondra learned of another couple with mobility issues in their community who were soon to be without a home after the city deemed their dwelling unlivable. The Coys joined a group of volunteers that developed a plan for the couple, accommodating their special needs. Several local contractors performed the work on the home at almost no cost thanks to the efforts of the volunteer group, and a few months later, the couple in need was able to move into a safe and refurbished home.